Carton molding apparatus



Dec. 6, 1949 R. J. HENNESSE'Y CARTON MOLDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed NOV. 1, 1943 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 CARTON MOLDING APPARATUS Russell J. Hennessey, St. Paul, Minn., asslgnor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St; Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application November 1, 1943, Serial No. 508,565

12 Claims. (Cl. 18-4) My invention relates to an improvement in method and machine for sealing cartons, wherein.

it is desired to provide a. simple and eficient mechanism for rendering cartons sift-proof.

In the application of Reynolds Guyer, Serial No. 495,053, now abandoned, a. method of molding the corners of cartons was described. In this application the advantage of molding the cartons, particularly at the corners thereof, was described. The cartons after the filling operation are sealed in the usual manner. The corners of the carton are then molded inwardly, preferably under heat and pressure, so as to sealthe carton corners andto render the same sift-proof.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a simple and effective means for molding the carton corners. The cartons are successively moved between a series of rollers which engage against the corners of the cartons. These rollers are urged inwardly under pressure so that the passage of cartons therebetween tends to resiliently force the rollers outwardly under spring tension. As considerable force is necessary to urge the rollers outwardly, the corners contacted by the rollers are deformed in such a manner that the material at the carton corners is formed or molded inwardly.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the rollers engaging the longitudinal fold lines connecting adjacent panels of each carton, tend not only to mold the forward corners first presented to the rollers, but also tend to mold inwardly the rear corners at the ends of. the fold lines. As the cartons pass between the rollers the springs urging the rollers inwardly tend to force the rollers inwardly before the cartons have entirely passed from between the rollers. As a result all of the corners of a carton may be molded inwardly by the various rollers.

An object of the present invention lies in providing a movable support for a series of cartons, capable of moving a series of aligned cartons, and to provide a series of rollers engageabl'e against each of the parallel fold lines connecting the various panels of the cartons. Rectangular cartons will thus be engaged by four sets of rollers, each of which is resiliently urged diagonally against its respective fold line. The rollers are so arranged as to lie in thepath of the corners of the carton, and are so mounted as to move outwardly under tension when engaged; by the cartons. As a result, pressure is simultaneously exerted against the cartons from fourdirections, these rollers acting to effectively Seal the corners of the cartons.

A furtherfeature of the present invention lies inv the fact that each seriesof rollers may be adjustably mounted so that cartons of various sizes and shapes may be accommodated. By adjusting the positions of the various sets of rollers, larger 'or provided with a thermo plastic adhesive medium before the molding operation, and it is desirable to hold the cartons in molded formation until the cartons have cooled or the thermo plastic material usedhasbecome set.

These and other objects and novel features of myinvention will be more clearly and fully set forth, in the following specification and claims.

in the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure l is aside elevational view of my carton molding. apparatus. showing the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is an end elevation view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the cartons after the molding operation has been completed.

My molding apparatus A, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, is preferably mounted upon a base ID of any'suitable type or description.

The base In is shown including a rectangular Mounted upon the table portions I3, I provide a pair of upright supporting brackets M which extend upwardly from the table portions [3 in spaced parallel: relation, as best indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings. Flanges 5 at the lower extremities of thesupports I4 are secured by bolts 46, on other suitable means, to the table portions I3- Bearings or journals I! are provided at the upper extremities of the supports M to provide a.

suitable support for the transversely extending shafts l9 and20.'- These shafts l9 and 20 support pulleys 2i and 22. r.espectively on which the conveying mechanism is mounted.

blocks or carton gripping elements 24 which,

engage between adjacent cartons B to space the cartons in proper spaced relationship and also to engage the cartons to holdthe same during the molding operation. The cartons B are fed between the spaced blocks or spacing elements 24 from the general direction illustrated by the arrow 25. The cartons are fed intermittently between adjacent spacing blocks 24, while the blocks 24 are spread apart due to the angularity of the pulley 2|. During the movement of. the

belt 23 about the pulley 2|, the blocks 24 remain.

on a plane substantially radial with respect to the shaft l9. enter between adjacent blocks, while the outer extremities thereof are spread substantially apart. As the belt 23 nears a horizontal position at the top of the pulley 2|, however, the angular distance between the cartons B and the spacer blocks 24 decreases so that when the belt 23 reaches the pulley 2|, the blocks 24 are in close contact with opposite surfaces of the cartons B.

The cartons B are discharged from the conveying mechanism during the time the belt 23 is travelling about the pulley 22. As the belt reaches the top of the pulley 22, the blocks 24 begin to spread apart so that after the cartons have been carried somewhat more than ninety degrees about the pulley 22 they may be discharged from the conveyor in the general direction of the arrow 26.

Extending upwardly from each end of the frame II, I provide spaced standards 21 and 29. The standards 21 are secured on the table portion I 3 at the left hand end of the apparatus as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. Flanges 30 at the lower ends of the uprights 21 are secured to the table portions |3 by suitable bolts 3|, which extend through elongated slots 32 in the table portion 3. These slots 32 extendin aligned position and transversely "of the frame so that the standards 21 may be secured in any desired spaced relationship. When desired the standards 21 may be moved relatively close together or may be spaced a considerable distance apart, depending upon the size of the cartons B to be molded.

The uprights 29 extend upwardly from the table portion |3 at the right hand end of the frame II, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. The uprights 29 are provided with flanges 33 at the lower ends thereof which form feet to be bolted against the table portion |3. Bolts 34 are provided which extend through slots 35, extending in alignment transversely of the table portion l3. The slots 35 are so arranged that the standards 29 may be moved closer together or farther apart.

In order to brace the respective standards 21 and to hold them in proper spaced relationship, transversely extending bars 36 and 31 are provided. These bars 36 and-31 are equipped with longitudinally extending aligned slots 39 and 40, respectively, to permit the standards 21 to be moved closer together or farther apart. The

Thus the cartons B may readilymeans of holding these bars 36 and 31 to the standards 2! will be later described in detail.

' Cross bars 4| and 42, similar to the cross bars 36 and 31, are provided connecting the standards 29. These cross bars 4| and 42 are longitudinally slotted in a manner similar to the bars 36 and 31, these slots being positioned in the same manner as the slots 39 and 40 in the previously described cross bars.

The vertical standards 21 are provided with spaced vertically extending slots 43 therein, to permit the cross arms 36 and 31 to be vertically adjusted in position. The upright standards 29 are likewise provided with slots 44, identical to the slots 43 in the standards 21, these slots 44 permit the vertical adjustment of the cross bars 4| and 42.

Roller supporting beams 45, 46, 41 and 49 extend in parallel relationship longitudinally of the frame It), and are supported by the uprights 21 and 29. Studs 5|] on the ends of the various beams extend through the slots on the uprights and on the cross members to hold these parts inassembled relationship. For example, the studs 50 at one end of the uppermost beams 45 and 43 extend through the slots 39 in the cross member 36 and through the slots 43 in the uprights 21. Nuts 5| are provided upon the ends of the stud to hold the beams 45 and 46 secured to the upright standards 21, and the cross arm 36.

Similarly, the studs 50 on one end of the lowermost beams 41 and 49 extend through the slots 46 in the cross arm 31 and through the slots 43 in the uprights 21. Nuts 5| also hold these elements in proper relation.

In the same manner the studs 50 of the uppermost beams 45 and 46 extend through the slots 44 in the uprights 29 and in the transverse slots in the cross member 4| to hold these elements in proper position. The studs 50 on the lowermost beams 41 and 49 extend through the slots in the transverse member 42 and also through the slots 44 in the uprights 29 so as to hold the beams in proper relationship to the uprights.

Each beam is provided with a series of spaced parallel apertures therethrough to support threaded shanks 52. These shanks 52 are secured to yokes 53 which support the axes 54 of grooved rollers 55. Springs 56 are provided on the shanks 52 between the yokes 53 and the roller supporting beams. Nuts 51 are provided on the shanks 52 so as to limit inward movement of these shanks. Means are preferably provided for holding the shanks 52 from rotation with respect to the supporting beams. For example, the portions of the shanks 52 connected to the yokes 53 may be square in cross section, or these shanks may be keyed in their respective supporting beams 45, 46, 41, and 49. Thus the rollers extend in alignment in position to engage the corners of the cartons B as they are moved past the rollers by the conveyor belt 23.

Bracket arms 59 are connected to the various beams to support longitudinally extending gas pipes 60 which extend beneath certain of the rollers 55. Openings are provided in these gas pipes 66 so as to direct a blast of combustible gas or the like toward the first rollers of the series of rollers 55. These gas flames are provided to heat the first rollers of the series so that the compression of the corners of the cartons may take place under heat and pressure.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the first roller 55 of the series is heated by a series of jets of flame. The next roller of each series.

rollers 55? is decreased so that the temperature" of I the. rollersdecreasesprogressively. The reniaining'rol'lersare .unheated and? act to hold the moldedcorners of the. box: in their. molded for matiorr. during the. cooling of the contacted portiorr of'the cartons.

Inloperation thebeamsAS, .45; .4'1, and: la-are secured) in: proper position to properly position the 'rollersi 55 to engagethe cartons B with the propert'ension. As-willbe; noted'the tension' of thexsprings 56. maybe adjusted by the position of the supporting beams. The cartons B are fed into the interstices between the spacing blocks 24 on the conveyor belt 23 and are carried between the diagonally opposed sets of rollers 55. These rollers 55 are normally urged inwardly so that a portion of each roller lies in the path of the cartons. As each carton B is carried along by the conveyor belt 23, the rollers are urged outwardly in unison compressing the springs 56. However, prior to being forced outwardly the roller has acted upon the forward corners of the carton to mold the same inwardly.

Intermediate the front and rear corners of the carton the rollers have a tendency to roll the edges of the carton so as to more firmly seal these edges. As the rollers 55 approach the rear corners of the carton the springs 56 urge the rollers inwardly so that as the rollers leave the rear corners of each carton the rollers mold these corners inwardly. In other words, the pressure of the springs 56 is sufiicient to mold the box corners inwardly, but these springs will be depressed when the roller bears against an edge of the carton. It is only when the rollers are partially unsupported by the carton that the molding of the corners takes place to any great extent.

The space between adjacent cartons B is sufficient to permit the various rollers to be urged inwardly by the springs 56 intermediate each adjacent pair of cartons. As a result each carton is uniformly molded at all of the corners thereof. By adjusting the relative positions of the beams 45, 46, ll, and 49, the apparatus may be adjusted to accommodate cartons of various sizes.

As the first rollers of the series are heated the corners are molded under heat and pressure. The remaining rollers are unheated so that the corners of the carton gradually cool but are held molded inwardly during the cooling operation.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my method and apparatus for molding carton corners, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A carton molding machine comprising a series of movably mounted rollers, means for holding a carton, means for actuating said carton holding means to move said carton with respect to said rollers to consecutively subject a corner of said carton to each of the rollers in the series, means supporting said rollers for movement into and out of the path of movement of the said corner of the carton as the carton is moved by said carton holding means, means urging said rollers into the path of movement of said carton corner and resisting movement of the rollers toward a position out of the path of 6'3; movement-aofithee-cartom corner," the::urging.:means: being suflicienti. to: compress;thee-carton: corners bezforerthe rollenmovesiout ofpits, path.

2. The structure defined in. claim 1 in which thenr'oll ers are: heated.

:means for actuating said carton holding means to move said cartonwwith respect-tosaid rollers to consecutively subjectsaidcorner of said carton to each of the rollers in the series,. means supporting said rollers for movement into and out of the path of movement of the said corner of the carton as the carton is moved by said carton holding means, means urging said rollers into the path of movement of said carton corner and resisting movement out of the path of movement of the carton corner, the urging means being sufiicient to compress the carton corner before the roller moves out of its path.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which the roller supporting means supports the rollers for movement diagonal relative to two of the three joining panels.

5. A carton molding machine for cartons having three panels joining to form a corner therebetween, the machine including a roller mounted in the path of movement of the corner to be engaged thereby, a carton holding means, means for actuating said holding means relative to said roller to move the carton relative to said roller to move said corner against said roller, means yieldingly supporting said roller for movement into and out of the path of relative movement of said carton corner, said roller supporting means urging said roller into the path of relative movement of said corner and yielding after engagement therewith after compressing said corner inwardly.

6. The structure described in claim 5 in which the roller supporting means supports the roller for movement diagonal to two of the three adjoining panels.

'7. The structure defined in claim 5 in which the roller is heated.

8. A carton molding machine for molding the corners of rectangular cartons, the corners being located at the juncture of three carton panels, the machine including means for holding the cartons, means for actuating said holding means to move the cartons, corner compressing means yieldingly supported in the path of movement of corners of said carton, said means being normally urged into the path of movement of the corners and yieldable to a position out of the path of movement of the corners, said means compressing the corners engaged before yielding.

9. The structure described in claim 8 in which the yieldingly supported corner compressing means is heated.

10. A carton molding machine for molding the corners of a rectangular carton, the carton having a forward face and rectangularly arranged wall panels connected to the edges thereof, the corners being located at the juncture of said forward face and each two adjoining wall panels. the machine including means for moving the carton in a direction perpendicular to said forward face, a roller yieldingly mounted in the path of movement ofv each of said corners, means movably supporting said rollers for movement into and out of the path of movement of said corners, means urging said rollers into the path of move ment of said carton corners, said carton moving said rollers out of the path of move'rnent'of'sald corners after engagement therewith.

11. The structure defined in claim 10 in which the rollers are heated.

12. The structure defined in claim 10 in which the movably supporting meains for the rollers supports the rollers movable ina. direction diagonal to the side wall panels engaged.

RUSSELL J. HENNESSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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